A/N: I'm really sorry! From now on I will have a new chapter up every Thursday evening! I promise!
Disclaimer: I had to ask my whether Faux was male or female… It's sad, I know.
It was Christmas Eve at Hogwarts school of Witch Craft and Wizardry, and unsurprisingly Albus Dumbledore was wide awake. The headmaster's pile of paperwork never seemed to ease, and if this truly was to be his last Christmas, he did not want to miss a moment. Albus was busy writing Rufus Scrimgeour for the umpteenth time, begging him to reconsider his ludicrous arrest of Stanley Shunpike, when there was a sharp tapping at the window. Faux, who had been sleeping peacefully on his perch, squawked in surprise.
Dumbledore turned to see none other than Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl, beating her beak against the glass pane. He swiftly moved to the window to allow the poor creature inside.
"What is it," the professor asked the owl. The owl only hooted and extended her talon in response. Dumbledore took the piece of parchment from her and read it quickly.
""Professor Dumbledore,
Please come to the Burrow immediately! It's an emergency!
_Lupin"
A small wave of fear washed over th headmaster as his heart began to race. There were few things that Remus Lupin would call him away from Hogwarts for. Unless it was a trap, he thought. But if it was a trap, he of course would have no choice but to walk into it, for it was the only key to saving his friends. Professor Dumbledore hurriedly flipped the parchment to the back and scrawled "I'm coming."
"Please take this back to Remus quickly," the headmaster said to the owl. The owl cocked her head quizzically at the headmaster, then flew back out the way she'd come in. "Armando," Albus appeared to be talking to no one, until the occupant of the portrait directly behind him jolted awake and yawned,
"Yes, Dumbledore?"
"A situation has arisen at the Burrow. Please go and wake Minerva and Severus. Let them know that I will be away for a couple of hours, and that they should keep alert while I am gone."
"Is that all Dumbledore," the former headmaster asked the current?
"Please remind that their most important duty is to the school, and that I will notify them if I am in need of their assistance."
"Very good sir," Professor Dippet replied, before turning to his right and disappearing casually out the side of the painting.
"Fauxx," Dumbledore turned to his faithful companion. The majestic bird needed no urging. He quickly flew across the room and once his master had grabbed a hold of his tail feather, he engulfed them both in a column of flame. The occupants of the portraits barely stirred.
A/N: What'd you think? I'll try to have the next one up by tomorrow, but I've got a lot of homework, so we'll see. I think the next one will be short too, but don't worry! Dumbledore will save the kids soon…. Or will he….